CD Reviews

This should have been released during the 1980's

William Matson | Maine | 02/08/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Quiet Riot will always be remembered for two things. The first is their 1983 album 'Metal Health.' The second is the rate at which Quiet Riot sped back down the charts, due both to lackluster albums and feuding amongst the band members. While the 1984 follow-up 'Condition Critical' did sell over a million copies, to say that Quiet Riot failed to live up to their earlier success is an understatement. What they didn't fail to do was produce some of their best music while flying under the radar. Released independently back in 1993, 'Terrified' stomps all over the three studio albums which Quiet Riot released after 'Metal Health.' These albums were 'Condition Critical', 'QRIII' and 'QR' (aka: 'Quiet Riot'), the latter of which featured Paul Shortino on lead vocals. The three albums did have their merits, some more than others, but 'Terrified' is clearly the better product.

First things first, most fans agree that 'Terrified' is Quiet Riot's heaviest album. Released in the 1980's, immediately after 'Metal Health', this would have been received more warmly than the album they did release ('Condition Critical'). Production here is quite limited compared to Quiet Riot's major label efforts. However, it allows the individual members to shine a little bit more. Fans of Carlos Cavazo will best enjoy his guitar work on selections like "Rude, Crude Mood" and the terrific instrumental "Resurrection." Frankie Banali, well-known for his work outside of Quiet Riot (with the likes of WASP and Heavy Bones), showcases his talent in the closing minute of "Psycho City" and throughout "Cold Day In Hell." Kevin DuBrow's best vocal performance could very well be the acoustic Small Faces cover "Itchycoo Park", which he recorded as a tribute to his favorite singer Steve Marriott. The late Kenny Hillery proves to be a good fit on bass, in place of usual Quiet Riot suspects like Rudy Sarzo and Chuck Wright. It is worth noting that Bobby Rondinelli (The Lizards, ex-Black Sabbath, ex-Blue Oyster Cult, etc.) contributed drums on a few of these tracks, this is explained by the fact that he was in on the sessions before Banali ultimately rejoined Quiet Riot. Over the years, Quiet Riot has had a lot of different lineups. This version of Quiet Riot, featuring Banali/DuBrow/Cavazo/Hillery (& Rondinelli), is one of the better ones.

Like other Quiet Riot albums that came before and after this one, 'Terrified' does feature a couple of cuts that are weaker than the rest. Despite this, none of the ten cuts are cheesy or even forgettable. 'Terrified' is an album that a Quiet Riot fan will want to listen to on repeat. The songwriting was more of a band effort this time around and at least a couple of outside songwriters are listed on the credits. As a result, this release is filled with anthemic choruses that will stay in the head of the listener. One other plus is that the heavy keyboards and background vocals, prominently featured on 'QRIII', are nowhere to be found. Quiet Riot went back to basics for 'Terrified.' They even put the trademark mask back on the album cover.

Getting to the songs, this is straight forward rock and roll that conforms to what one might expect from Quiet Riot. The music, the lyrics and Kevin DuBrow's distinctive vocals will sound familiar. Unlike later releases like 'Down to the Bone' or the newest cd 'Rehab', 'Terrified' doesn't stray too far from the formula. "Cold Day In Hell" gets the album off to a heavy start. "Loaded Gun", which seems to be mistitled on Amazon's track listing, slows things down a little bit and the listener gets to hear a more menacing Kevin DuBrow. The title cut ("Terrified") still makes it into Quiet Riot's live set on occasion and so do both "Itchycoo Park" and "Psycho City." For those of you interested in hearing some of these selections from 'Terrified' in concert, I'd recommend the live Quiet Riot dvd/cd set from a few years back. "Rude Boy" and "Dirty Lover" are a pair of back-to-back raunchy numbers that will get longtime Quiet Riot fans pumped. "Rude, Crude Mood" is probably the heaviest cut on this album, aside from "Cold Day In Hell." The first single from 'Terrified' was actually "Little Angel", which is a song that lead singer Kevin DuBrow would rather disown. The instrumental "Resurrection" can be found at the very end of the album, which is the perfect spot for it. It might have sounded out of place somewhere in the middle.

There might be a few readers wondering if they should pick up this album. If you like Quiet Riot at least a little bit, then this is a no-brainer. 'Terrified' is a very solid four stars. A lot of these songs are good enough that they could have been included on a Quiet Riot greatest hits album, if somebody at a major label had bothered to acquire the rights for these songs. It is just too bad that this record has gone out of print and it was such a low-profile release. If it had come out on a bigger label and a few years earlier, things might have went quite a bit different for Quiet Riot. As of early 2007, fans are able to locate this album under the alternate (import) title of 'Cold Day In Hell.' Everything is the same, except for the cover art. All ten tracks are included on that import. Cassette copies of 'Terrified' are still relatively easy to obtain, too. As for the original 'Terrified' cd, the easiest way to find it is used. Copies vary greatly in price, depending on where you find it.

What if someone reading this never liked Quiet Riot and doesn't have any of their albums? Then you'll want to pass on 'Terrified', too. It is just more of the same and your mind is already made up."

Original QR

Mark T. Prather | asheville, nc | 01/03/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this album was very stripped down in production, making it an absolute masterpiece for these guys. listening to it today 15 years after it's release, i'm still amazed this was a group of 4, with only 3 actually playing instruments. i think this was what the band was trying to do originally maybe after metal health or condition critical, but it came too late. the overall feel of this album is edgy and a little dark, however, it also has motivating undertones and is highly driven. each member stands out in every facet of this album; huge guitar riffs and solos, uninhibited drum licks, and kevin's patented screaming lyrics. this is fantastic grass roots rock and a total return to form in the QR archive. i stumbled onto this disc in a mall in '93, and never heard a thing about it before or after that. if you liked the first 3 albums, and don't know about this one, it's a must have that you'll be listening to for a long time. great for a long distance interstate road trip."

This is the best QR album ever! ! !

G. Sawyer | kingsport, TN United States | 11/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was a huge fan of of the first 2 QR albums (Metal Health & Condition Critical). I loved the razor sharp guitar riffs, the thundering drums and the crisp vocals sounds of those first 2 albums. The first 2 QR albums are forever etched in stone as two of the greatest hard rock (heavy metal) albums ever. But as always all good things must end and needless to say when they made thier 3rd album, they strayed away from the formula that made the first two albums so great. and as a result the third album (QR3)was a huge let down. In 1986, Following the release of the less than average album QR3, the band's career went into a tailspin. That tailspin turned into a nose dive and the band eventually broke up.

However in 1993 on the 10th anniversary of the #1 selling "Metal Health" Quiet Riot regrouped and recorded thier first new album together in 7 years. (that album they made in 1988 without Kevin Dubrow doesn't count as a true QR album).

the result was "TERRIFIED". It wasn't a throw back to the first 2 albums...oh no, it was even better than the first 2 albums. I can only imagine where thier carrers would have gone if this album had came out in 1986 instead of "QR3". The first track "Cold Day in Hell" immediatly demands your attention, and then it moves through some of the hardest hitting (in your gut) music the band ever did. songs like the title track "Terrified" and "Dirty Lover" are songs that you cant get enough of. You find youself playing those songs over and over. and then there so many other great songs on this album. Its hard to pick a favorite tune. This album is a master piece. I never understood why it was ignored by mainstream radio and MTV back in 1993 when it was released. this album is fantastic. I remember playing it till my ears were ready to bleed."